Apparatus for lubricating machinery



Oct. 23, 1934.

J. C. HANDY APPARATUS FOR LUBRIQATING "MACHINERY Filed Jan. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23,1934. J. c. HANDY 1,977,877

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING MACHINERY Fi led Jan. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. "23, 1934. J, HANDY 1,977,877

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICKTING MACHINERY Filed Jah. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet s gu de/M1300 02 mqd Oct. 23, 1934. J. c; HANDY 1,977,877

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING MACHINERY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 4, 1929 Patented Oct. 23, 1934 APPARATUS Foa waarca'rme MACHINE .John 0. Handy, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Standard Oil Company of California, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application January 4, 1929, Serial No. 330,286

10 Claims. (Cl. 184-6) This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for lubricating machinery.

The invention, in general, relates to the means and methods whereby supplies of lubricants of 5 different characters are supplied to a machine, such as an engine, in accordance with difierent operating conditions.

More specifically, the invention relates to the method and means whereby such different lubricants are supplied to the machinery in accordance with the temperature of said lubricants.

The invention relates to the methods and means for lubricating machinery, particularly where extremes of temperature are encountered, and it is well adapted for eifecting lubrication of motor vehicles and other equipment that is in intermittent service and that is subjected to outside atmospheric conditions.

It has long been a problem in the lubrication of machinery, particularly motor vehicles, to provide for efilcient lubrication under all of the different conditions of operation, that is, from the time of starting with a cold motor, through the period of warming up and after the higher temperatures of working conditions are reached. The problem is greatly aggravated wherever extremely low temperatures may prevail, as in winter in low altitudes, and at all times in relatively high altitudes. Under low temperatures lubricating oil that, under ordinary temperatures would be suitable, becomes sluggish and viscous, so that it cannot be properly distributed to the surfaces that are to be lubricated until such surfaces become heated and transfer their heat to the lubricant to render it more fluid and less viscous.

Thus, in an automotive engine, it is diflicult to maintain suitable lubrication with a heavy cold oil for an appreciable time, during which overloading may result and the oil film become broken, thus making possible the scoring of cylinders and bearings. 4

Manufacturers of automobiles have long been cognizant of the difficulties encountered in properly lubricating their product, as evidenced by their recommendations to automobile operators of the use of oils of different viscosities for operating in summer and winter. The working temperature of an engine, in service, is largely independent of atmospheric temperatures and, it follows, that oils adapted for the best lubrication in service cannot be used on account of difliculty in handling and distributing the oil during the period before the working temperature is reached. 1

Consequently, the manufacturers specify for winter lubrication an oil of as high a viscosity as will permit of its being employed cold so as to afford the best lubrication at working temperatures under the circumstances. Such an oil may be termed an average oil, that is, one that is capable of functioning to a degree at the extremes of temperature encountered. Thus, such average oil would be more viscous for maximum efficiency at the lower temperatures and less viscous at the higher temperatures than would be theoretically correct if the manufacturer were to correctly specify an oil for either the lower or higher temperatures, thus entailing a sacrifice of lubricating efllciency both while the oil is cold and after working temperatures are reached.

In some instances manufacturers have recommended the thinning of lubricating oils with ker- -selectivesupplying of lubricants by means that "'osene or the like to enable automobiles to be started in cold weather. This practice is at .best a makeshift, as it results in such a dilution of the oil that the viscosity of said oil cannot readily be maintained at a constant ratio. While a mixture of kerosene and lubricating oil may have the required fluidity for easy starting of engines and handling through a circulating system, it is obvious that such a mixture cannot afford maximum lubrication under the normal working conditions of the engines.

The present invention provides suitable lubricants for the varying operating conditions, so that maximum lubricating efficiency is afiorded at all times.

An object is to provide means. whereby suitable lubricants in proper condition for efilcient lubrication are supplied to the machinery at all times.

Another object is to make provision for automatically supplying the diiferent lubricants.

Another object is to provide means whereby the working conditions ofthe machinery control'the lubricant supplies so that the particular lubricant supplied will be that one that provides for eflicient operation under the particular working condition of the machinery.

Another object is to make provision for the for other equipment where similar extremes of temperature are encountered during operation.

The invention provides a reservoir for light oil and a reservoir for heavy oil in heat exchange relationship or the heavy oil may be heated by the engine exhaust gases or water circulating system to utilize the waste heat of the engine. Under low temperature conditions, as in starting, the invention provides for feeding of the light oil to the engine until suflicient temperature has been built up either in the heavy oil or the engine itself or both to permit the heavy oil to be properly handled, whereupon the change-over to the heavy oil is effected. While some means of heating the heavy oil before its introduction is preferred, it is possible to carry out the invention without providing any special means of preheating the heavy oil, inasmuch as the heat of the engine at the time of the change-over may enable the oil to be properly applied to the points of lubrication until the Working temperature of the heavy oil is attained in the course of time as it circulates through the engine. In my copending application filed January 9, 1929, Serial No. 331,254, the heavy oil is heated by the engine exhaust gases.

The substitution of one oil for the other can be controlled manually, thermostatically or by pressure of the oil in the system.

Other objects and advantages will appear in-th subjoined detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 isa more or less diagrammatic sectional view-of an apparatus embodying the invention, the machinery with which the apparatus functions also being shown.

Figure 2- isan enlarged view, partly in section, of that portion-of Figure 1 that shows the bearing and the parts adjacent thereto.

Figure 3 is a broken view, partly in section, of a modified valve control.

Figure 4 is a broken view, partly in section, showing another form of valve control.

Figures 5 to 8 inclusive are views illustrating another form of valve control, some of the parts in Figure 5 being shown in section. The moving parts are shownin different positions in the different views.

i Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the valve actuating mechanism shown in Figure 1. Figure 10 illustrates a thermo-electric device suitable for operating any of the valve systems previously shown.

Figure 11 is a partial drawing of a valve assembly to show a method of operating the system by the pressure in the oil lines.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the draw ings, there are provided two oil reservoirs or receptacles, 11, 12, which are in heat exchange relation. The receptacle 11 contains a relatively light lubricating oil, A, and the receptacle 12 contains a relatively heavy lubricating oil, B. In this particular instance, vertical tubes 13 extend through the receptacle 12 and communicate at their upper and lower ends with the interior of. the receptacle 11 so that the lighter oil can circulate through said tubes, thus enabling the warm oil to readily transfer heat to the cooler oil.

The lower portion of the receptacle 11 is connected by a conduit 14 to a port 15 in the wall of the valve chamber 16. The upper portion of the receptacle 11 is connected by a conduit 1'7 to a port 18 in the'wall of said valve chamber 16.

The lower portion of the receptacle 12 is connected by a conduit 19 to a port 20 in the wall of the valve chamber 16, and the upper portion of the receptacle 12 is connected by a conduit 21 to a port 22 in the wall of said valve chamber. Another port 23 in the wall of the valve chamber communicates through a conduit 24 with the surfaces 25, 26, 27, 28 that are to be lubricated, said surfaces being portions of the machinery which is indicated in general by the character 29. In this particular instance, the machinery 29 is an engine of which the cylinder is indicated at 30, the piston at 31, the connecting rod at 32, the crank arm at 33, the engine shaft at 34 and the bearing for the engine shaft at 35. The surface 25 is the periphery of the piston, the surface 26 is the inner wall of the cylinder, the surface 27 is the inner wall of the bearing and the surface 28 is the periphery of the shaft within the bearmg.

The wall of the valve chamber is provided with another port 36 which also communicates through a conduit 37 with the surfaces 25, 26, 2'7, 28. The ports 15, 20 are arranged in pairs, as are the ports 23, 36, and the ports 18, 22. The-wall of the valve chamber is provided opposite the pair of ports 15, 20 with a port 38, opposite the pair of ports 23, 36 with a port 39, and opposite the pairof ports 18, 22 with a port 40. The port 38 communicates through a conduit 41 with a pump 42 which, in turn, communicates through a conduit 43 with the port 39. The port 40 communicates through a conduit 44 with a pump 45 which inducts oil through a conduit 46 that is connected with an oil sump 4'7 positioned beneath the engine parts hereinbefore described so as to catch the surplus oil that drips therefrom. ..--Within the valve chamber 16 is a valve 48, of the slide type in this instance. This valve is provided with ducts 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54. When the valve is in the position shown in Figure 1, the ducts 49, 51 and 53 are in position to permit oil to flow from the receptacle 11 to the friction surfaces and from the sump back to said receptacle 11. The valve 48 can be operated so as to bring the ducts 50, 52 and 54 into position to permit of oil. passing from the receptacle 12 to the friction surfaces and from the sump back to said receptacle '12,. Thus, the position of the valve 48 governs which oil is circulated to the friction surfaces and back to the receptacle containing said oil.

The valve 48 may be operated manually by its stem 55 but it is preferable that the valve be operated automatically by a temperature-controlled mechanism which, in' this instance, is constructed as follows:

The valve stem 55 is pivoted at 56 to lever 57,

the fulcrum of which is indicated at 58. The lever 57 is pivoted at 59 to a rod 60'that connects with a plunger 61 of a thermostatic device 62. The plunger 61 rests on a body of mercury 63 within a chamber 64 that is positioned within the oil in the receptacle 12 so that when the oil B becomes heated to a predetermined temperature, the ther- 'mostatic device will'operate the valve 48 to a position which will permit the oil Bto be fed to the friction surfaces. A spring 641 is compressed by this operation of the valve and by its expansion returns the valve to feed the oil A, when the mercury contracts.

Referring to Figure 9, the plunger rod 60 is provided with two notches or stops 601 and 602 engaging the spring member 603 at positions corresponding to the operating positions of the slidup to overcome the resistance of spring member 603 the stop 601 is pushed away from engagement with spring member 603 and the expansion of spring 610 forces the rod quickly upward, thus instantaneously effecting the change-over of the valve. The plunger rod 60 rises so that stop 602 engages'spring member 603 and spring 641 at the bottom of valve 48 is compressed. Contraction of the mercury 63 due to cooling .releases the pressure of spring 610. until spring 641 is able to force stop 602 out of engagement with spring member 603,- when the change back to original'position is effected.

As clearly shown in Figure 2, it is preferable to provide the conduits 24, 3'7 with check-valves 65, 66, respectively, adjacent to the bearing 35. These check-valves open in a manner to permit oil to discharge through either conduit and prevent said oil from being forced back into the other conduit, thus preventing contamination of one oil with the other within the system.

The foregoing will make clear the construction and operation of the inyention and, briefly stated, the operation is as follows: I

Assuming that the engine and the oils A, B are cold as they would be, for example, in cold weather, and assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1, the engine will be started into operation in the usual manner and the pump 42 will function to force the relatively light lubricant A to the friction surfaces. This will continue until the heat generated by the engine and absorbed by the circulating oil is transferred to the relatively heavy oil B and operates the thermostatic device so as to cause shifting of the valve 48 into position to shut off the flow of lighter oil and permit of the pump 42 pumping the heavier oil to the friction surfaces. At first the lighter oil that escapes from the friction surfaces passes into the sump 4'7 and is discharged from said sump, by operation of the pump 45, into the receptacle'll. When, however, the lighter oil is shut off and the heavier oil is fed to the friction surfaces, said heavier oil passes into the sump and is forced by the pump 45 intothe receptacle l2.

One form of valve control has been described above and another form is illustrated in Figure 3, in which the parts that functionally correspond to those hereinbefore described are indicated by the same reference characters with the addition of the letter a. In this instance there are three separate rotary valves'48a instead of a single slide valve, as in Figure 1. Each of the valves is a three-way valve and the valves may be manually operated or automatically controlled by a thermostatic device as described for Figure 1. Since the operation of the invention is the same as described above when the valve-control shown in Figure 3 is employed, the description of the operation need not be repeated.

Another form of valve control is illustrated in Figure 4 and the parts that functionally correspond to those described above in connection with Figure 1 are indicated by the same reference characters with the addition of the letter "72. This valve, also, may be manually operated or operated by a thermostatic device such as that shown, which consists of a deformable spring thermostatic disc or button 67 secured to the valve-stem 55 within the valve chamber 16 The disc is bimetallic, being formed of laminated sheets of different metals, in a manner well understood in the art relating to thermostats. The change of form of the disc 6'7 is not gradual, but instantaneous; and the disc snaps from one position to the other when the critical temperature is reached, thus instantaneously moving the valves from one positon to another.

It will be seen that the disc 67 also functions to separate the light oil supply from the heavy oil supply. In this form of valve control, as in the form shown in Figure 3, there are three separate valves and said valves are simultaneously operated by the thermostatic device 67 so as to feed and scavenge either the lighter oil or the heavier oil.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, these views illustrate a thermostatic control that may be used to operate-any of the forms of valves hereinbefore described. This valve control, which includes a thermostatic device, operates instantaneously, as does the thermostatic device 67, so as to effect the change over from light to heavy oil, and vice versa,-in a manner to avoid contamination of one oil with the other. This thermostatic valve control is constructed as follows: There is provided a metallic bellows 68, commonly termed a sylphon, and said bellows contains a fluid the expansion of which, under the influence of heat, causes elongation of the bellows and, vice versa, contraction'of which fluid causes shortening or contraction of the bellows. The upper end of the bellows is anchored by any suitable means rod '73 which passes through an aperture '74 inthe upperend of the stem '70. The rod '73 ter- The valve itself is minates at its lower end in an enlarged head 75 which prevents the rod being drawn through the aperture 74 by reason of said head engaging the inner face of the upper end wall of the tube. On the stem '70 are two ratchets or shoulders '76. '77 forming flat surfaces designed to seat on the upper and lower sides, respectively, of a. yieldingly held stop '78. I

This stop '78 is provided for the purpose of holding the stem against movement until a predetermined pressure is built up sufficient to overcome the spring tension of said stop. whereupon the shoulder '76 or '77, as the case may be, will be forced past the stop, thus resulting in a quick movement of the member '70. The stop '78 is constructed so that movement of the member '70 in either direction past the stop will permit the other shoulder to freely move past the stop so I parts in normal position or, in other words, in a position that corresponds to a position of the valve or valves that would permit of the lighter oil being fed to the friction surfaces, as has been hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 1. When the temperature approaches the point at which the change over from the lighter to the heavier oil should occur, the bellows 68 expands, compressing the spring '72 and forcing the plate 69 in contact with the upper end of the stem 70, as illustrated in Figure 6. Continued expansion of the bellows 68 causes the plate 69 to force the stem 70 downwardly, thus thrusting the shoulder 76 past the stop 78, whereupon the stem '70 under the influence of the spring '72 is quickly forced downwardly to the position illustrated in Figure '7. In this position the shoulder 7'7 comes to rest with its upper face engaging beneath the stop 78, thereby yieldingly holding the stem '70 against upward movement.

When the temperature of the machinery falls, as it would, for example, in the case of an engine when it ceases to operate, the bellows 68 contracts, placing the spring 72 in tension and bringing the head 75 of the rod 73 in contact with the shoulder 84 in the upper end of the stem 70, which is held against upward movement at this time by the stop 78, as in Figure 8, which view shows the device with its parts ready to return to normal or cold position. Further contraction of the bellows 68 exerts a positive pull on the stem 70 by means of the rod 73, thus overcoming the resistance of the stop 78 so that the shoulder 77 escapes upwardly past said stop, whereupon the tension of the spring '72 serves to return the stem '70 to the normal position shown in Figure 5.

While the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 contemplates thermostatic operation, the stem 55* may be extended outside of the valve chamber 16' as at 85 to afford visual inspection of the operation of the valves and/or to provide a means for manually operating said stem. Thus, just before stopping the engine, after operation of the same under working conditions, the valves may be manually reversed to ly instantaneous to avoid any material mixing of the oils during the transition. Devices of the trigger type are obviously suitable for such quick action and the same may be effected by means of the electrical system diagrammatically shown in Figure 10 or the pressure device illustrated in Figure 11.

Referring to Figure ll), which illustrates a thermoelectric device for operating the oil control valve. The elements that functionally correspond to those hereinbefore described for Figto be drawn downward-by the suddenly produced magnetic force. Movement of the bar 95 changes the position of the valve 48 and effects the change-over of oils as previously described. When the oil in container 12 cools below the critical temperature the switch 93 is opened and spring 641 returns valve 48 to its original position. The functioning of solenoids and electromagnets is so well known that it is not necessary to dilate further on this embodiment of the invention.

A form of valve actuating mechanism controlled and operated by the pressure in the 011 lines is shown in Figure 11. The elements that functionally correspond to those hereinbefore described, in connection with Figures 1, 5 and 9, are indicated by the same reference character with the addition of the letter (Z. Pressure, temperature and viscosity of oils in a lubricating system are inter-related and either may be an indication of suitability. Here we have a pump 42 delivering oil, through line 24, normal or starting position and until thepr'essure in line 24 'is reduced to a point indicating that change-over should be effected, when valve 48' is dropped, allowing delivery through line 37 When pressure is applied to line 24 as in starting, the pressure valve'stem is forced upward, the shoulder '76 thereon passing the end of the lever arm 78 On suitable reduction of pressure, spring 72' forces stem 100 downward carrying with it lever arm 78 and causing the upper valve 48 to open the port 36 allowing oil to be delivered to line 37 The sudden increase of pressure in line 37 causes pressure valve 104 to complete the downward closure of valve 48", which remains in this position until the engine is stopped, causing the system to return to initial position. The shoulder '76 is constructed so as to slip past the end of the lever arm '78 when the arm is depressed, and to only engage the arm in the position shown.

It will be noted that in each of the embodiments illustrated there is a pump communicating with the sump for returned oil to deliver excess oil, over that consumed in lubrication, to the respective oil receptacles. This sump, while not essential to the operation of the invention,

is preferred and is desirable to reduce contamination of one oil with the other to a minimum, since the operation of the scavenging pump maintains the'sump substantially free from oil, thus avoiding the accumulation of any considerable body of the oil from either receptacle, which oil, were it not pumped out of the sump, would be returned to the receptacle containing the other oil, after the change over from one oil to the other has been effected.

As still further insuring against any material contamination of one oil with the other, separate oil lines are preferred for the oils, leaving only an immaterial amount of oil between the actual friction surfaces as a source of possible contamination.

Where separate lines for light and heavy oils are used, it may be desirable to prevent contamination of the quiescent oil in one line by the oil in the other line due to back pressure of oil while feeding from said other line, and this is accomplished by use of the check-valves 65, 66 which may be installed wherever the oil lines open to the friction surfaces.

It is to be understood, in connection with the valve operating mechanism illustrated'in Figures 5 to 8, that the sylphon 68 may be immersed in the oil, as is the thermostatic device 62, or that it may be enclosed in a chamber in temperature exchange relation with the oil, as is the mercury 63 enclosed in its containing chamber.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising a plurality of different lubricant supplies, and a means for alternately conveying the supplies to the same surfaces that are to be lubricated, and means responsive to change in temperature of the surface being lubricated for selectively rendering said oil conveying means operative.

2. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising receptacles for oils, a means for delive'ring the oil from one of the receptacles to the surfaces that are to be lubricated, a means for heating one of the oils, and a means operable by the temperature of the heated oil to stop the delivery of the first mentioned oil and to deliver the oil from the other receptacle to said surfaces.

3. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising receptacles for oils, a means for delivering the oil from one of the receptacles to the surfaces that are to be lubricated, a means for heating the other oil, anda means operable by the temperature of the heated oil to stop delivery of the first mentioned oil and to deliver the.

heated oil to said surfaces.

4. An apparatus forlubricating machinery comprising a plurality of difierent lubricant supplies, a means for alternately conducting the supplies to the same-surfaces that are to be lubricated, means responsive to change in temperature of the surfaces being lubricated for selectively rendering said oil conducting means operative, and a means for returning surplus lubricant to the supply from which it is being delivered.

5. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising receptacles for oils, a means for delivering the oil from one of the receptacles to the surfaces that are to be lubricated, a means for heating-one of the oils. a means operable by the temperature of the heated oil to stop the deliveryof the first mentioned oil and to deliver the oil from the other receptacle to said surfaces,

the first mentioned oil and to deliver the heated oil to said surfaces, and a means for returning the surplus oil to the receptacle from which it is being delivered.

7. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising receptacles for oil in heat exchange relation, a means for delivering the oil from one of the receptacles to the surfaces that are to be lubricated, and a means operable by the temperature of the oil in the other receptacle to stop delivery of the first mentioned oil and to deliver the heated oil to said surfaces.

' 8. An apparatus for lubricating machinery comprising receptacles for oils of different characteristics, conduit means for supplying oil from each of said receptacles to a machine to be lu bricated, valve means in said conduits, and means, operably connected to said valve means, and responsive to changes in-temperature of the machine being lubricated for operating said valves and selectively rendering said supply conduits operative.

9. In an apparatus for lubricating machinery, the combination of a plurality of receptacles for oils of different characteristics, means for supplying oil from each of said receptacles to a surface to be lubricated, and means operable by change in characteristics of one of said oils for selectively. rendering said oil supply means operative.

10. In an apparatus for lubricating machinery, the combination of a plurality of receptacles for oils of different characteristics, means for supplying oil from each of said receptacles to a machine to be lubricated, and means responsive to change in temperature of the machine being lubricated for selectively rendering said oil supply means operative.

JOHN C. HANDY. 

